Join UrbanSkin owner Sandra Martin at her COVID-19 approved outdoor popup studio, where she provides a variety of plant based skin care treatments designed to revitalize your skin.
UrbanSkin – Stem Cell Technology in Skin Care
Sandra Martin opened her skin care studio nine years ago and has recently rebranded as UrbanSkin in Lafayette. Her COVID-19 safe outdoor pop-up studio is a great place to experience any of her treatments, now offered at 25% off. She chose the Dermaquest line of state-of-the-art skincare products because they allow her to use science at its best.
Plant based Dermaquest ingredients are manufactured here in the East Bay. Martin uses formulas that include stem cells from lilac leaves, which reduce skin inflammation; anti-aging peptides to nourish the skin; and a new collection with CBD (Cannabidiol) to calm and hydrate the skin. Martin says the hyaluronic acid contained in most of Dermaquest’s products helps plump the skin.
Dermatologist Dr. Lily Talakoub said in Harpers Bazaar, “Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a sugar found naturally in our skin that holds water and helps keep it hydrated and plump. The HA within our bodies holds a thousand times its weight in water to not only retain all that moisture in our skin and joints, but also prevent all that moisture from evaporating into the air.” Certainly, this is an example of science at its best.
Martin, who was born and raised in Switzerland, graduated from the prestigious Make Up Designory Academy of Los Angeles, and worked with a dermatologist and plastic surgeon. She is a licensed Esthetician with 18 years of experience. She attends Dermaquest’s ongoing classes because of their international reputation for advancing plant stem cell technology. At industry trade shows, she keeps up on the latest technology in her field.
Alison Stout of Aspire PR in Orinda says, “Sandra has been my esthetician for more than five years. There’s nobody I would trust more with my skin and all of my skin care questions. She’s a truly talented artist who knows exactly what the skin needs to thrive.”
According to Martin, people often come in with bumpy skin and are not sure what to do, having tried many different things. “I’m very realistic with them and tell them I can usually make a real difference within six treatments. It’s true; they get results,” said Martin. She says skin care is like working out – the more you do it the better it gets.
Hair removal services at UrbanSkin are accomplished with Nufree, a gentle soy-based antibacterial and antimicrobial liquid hair removal system. Testimonials say clients leave her studio and simply resume their day. So erase from your mind the pain, redness and swelling often associated with wax-based products. “I’ve been told my eyebrow shaping is very good, and it’s easy to book,” said Martin.
When not at her studio, Martin can be seen hiking around Briones with her dog Milo or shopping local – Romp is one of her haunts. Visit UrbanSkin at 1043 Stuart St., Suite 160 in Lafayette Tues. – Fri. 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., call 925-330-7304, email myurbanskin@gmail.com or go to www.myurbanskin.com.
Elana O’Loskey Village Pizza owner Adrian Adame (R) has asked Manager/Chef Jason (L) to create daily specials from fresh ingredients for takeout orders during COVID-19 restrictions.
Village Pizza – 35 Years in Orinda
Have a pizza combination of your own invention? This is the place to make it real. Village Pizza is known for its piping hot pizza just the way you like it, including vegetarian choices. Call for the menu specials, which change daily. This hometown, family-run Italian restaurant and pizza parlor has been around for 35 years.
Owner Adrian Adame is grateful for the support shown by the community. He has adapted the businesses’ schedule during COVID-19 restrictions, which is why he requests you call for daily specials. Their new hours are Mon. – Sun. 3 – 8:30 p.m. to pick up to go orders; 5 – 8:30 p.m. to request deliveries within Orinda, and from 3 – 8:30 p.m. for delivery by Doordash. Longtime managers Jason and Morgan, plus five other staff members, keep things running.
Village Pizza offers a wide variety of pizza options from vegetarian to chicken, sausage and pepperoni. Everything is prepared from scratch daily using the highest quality fresh ingredients. The current menu changes daily; all sauces and dressings are house made. Wine, beer and soda can be delivered or picked up when added to your food order.
Adame said, “Maybe the best experience we bring to Village Pizza is coming from an Italian family; cooking and getting people together around food are our passions.” He says his two managers are equally passionate about creating dishes every day from the freshest ingredients. Manager Jason is the grandson of the original owner, Joe, and has worked there since the beginning. Manager Morgan has been there over 20 years. They both use grandfather Joe’s original recipes because “they taste just like the recipes my family used in Italy,” said Adame. He says both managers are artisan chefs because of their culinary originality. “Sometimes on a Friday night they will riff off what is fresh that day and come up with something spicy, unexpected and delicious. I am very proud of their abilities,” he said.
Call to find out what’s on order at 925-254-1200, pick up your order at Village Pizza, 19 Orinda Way (in the mini mall across from the Orinda Library) or request delivery from Village Pizza itself or Doordash. Email the Orinda restaurant atv villagepizza@villagepizzaorinda.com or visit www.villagepizzaorinda.com.
